With an organization-wide vision of Southern hospitality and world-class customer service, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority ( CRVA ) seeks to ensure that the visitors and events that come to the area have a positive experience. Our responsibilities include destination marketing through Visit Charlotte and management of Charlottes public assembly facilities which include Bojangles Coliseum, the Charlotte Convention Center, Ovens Auditorium and Time Warner Cable Arena, and will include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, currently under construction. Guided by three main mission objectives, the CRVA markets by bringing visitors and events to the Charlotte region, manages by making the visitors experience positive and the events successful, and maximizes by marketing and managing in a way that continues to bring visitors and events back to the region. The 13-member board of directors gives leadership and guidance to Chief Executive Officer Tim Newman. Management staff of the CRVA reports directly to the board which in turn is accountable to the City of Charlotte and the Mayors office. The CRVA benefits from a Visitors Advisory Committee, a 30+ member volunteer committee comprised of leaders from the hospitality industry in the region. This committee gives input to the board of directors on a variety of issues pertinent to this growing industry. The CRVA manages city-owned assets whose value exceeds $500 million, employs over 190 fulltime employees and a variety of temporary positions and has an annual operating budget that exceeds $30 million. On an annual basis, the CRVA facilities host over 600 events attended by approximately 2 million residents and visitors. Visit Charlotte, formerly known as the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau, operates as the sales and marketing component of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority ( CRVA ). This fabulous arena opened on Friday, October 21, 2005 as home of the NBAs Charlotte Bobcats and ECHLs Charlotte Checkers. The Arena hosts a spectrum of events from professional and amateur sporting competitions to national and international draws in the family and entertainment arena, such as The Rolling Stones, Elton John and U2. This technological state-of-the-art, beautifully-decorated facility is a $265 million project in the heart of the center city. In addition to creating a high level of excitement and fan support, the arena is expected to attract a host of center city restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Bojangles Coliseum, located at 2700 East Independence Boulevard, is just minutes from Center City Charlotte. The historic venue hosts concerts, family shows, world-class figure skating, rodeo and bull riding competitions, and a host of other diverse entertainment events for all ages to enjoy. The landmark dome opened in 1955 as Charlottes first coliseum and served as the regions major sports and entertainment facility for over 30 years. The building closed in 1988, but after extensive refurbishing and retrofitting, 11, 000 seat venue reopened to the public in 1993. The renovation restored the coliseums classic ambiance. The celebrated facility has been known by many names: Charlotte Coliseum, Independence Arena, Cricket Arena and now Bojangles Coliseum. Through the years the name has changed, yet one thing has remained the same. The quality entertainment that is experienced at Bojangles Coliseum creates memories that last a lifetime.